mai ri mai mai ri
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau
sab panghat mohe ghurat aise
sab panghat mohe ghurat aise
laz ni mai mar jau
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau

kajal mai ek mach rahe
sobhe rai kach kach kach mane
ratan jaridya ratan jaridya
nak ki besari kaise kahe de paaun
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau

jal bhar ke ghat jal bhar ke ghat
dharat kati pe sark gayo tan
taniya charaye alo tadak gayo
alo tadak gayo ghat chin me
jal kaise bhar pau
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau
sab panghat mohe ghurat aise
laz ni mai mar jau
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau
mai ri mai neer bharan nahi jau

Mother, oh mother,
I will not go to fetch the water.
I will not go.

All the well-sides stare at me,
all their gazes pierce.
Shame would swallow me whole, mother.
I will not go.

A black mark clings to my eyes,
a shadow of something, something, something.
A jeweled nose-ring, a glittering treasure,
how can I ever bear to part with it?
I will not go.

As I filled the pot,
it slipped and slid from my waist,
and the thread that held me, it broke,
the pot shattered in a single moment.

How can I fetch the water now?
I will not go.
All the well-sides stare at me,
shame would swallow me whole, mother.
I will not go.